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When Barbie's director Greta Gerwig smiled at me

Greta has captured my heart, and I have immersed myself in her films

Star gaze: Greta Gerwig (centre) with other celebs at the Pink Carpet premiere of Barbie | Getty Images

Picture yourself in the mesmerising world of cinemas. Ever since I moved to London, it had become a regular part of my life, working at a cinema and witnessing the comings and goings of celebrities. So you can imagine my devastation when I discovered that our cinema would not be hosting the much-anticipated Barbie premiere on July 12. What made this movie so special to me was not just the incredible cast; it was the fact that Greta Gerwig directed it. For me, Barbie represents Greta’s artistic vision, even though I had never watched Barbie animations or played with the dolls. Growing up with brothers who adhered to traditional masculine norms, I missed out on the Barbie experience.

Greta has captured my heart with her exceptional talent as a writer, director, and actor. I have immersed myself in her movies like Frances Ha (2012), Mistress America (2015), and 20th Century Women (2016). Her characters resonate deeply with women of my age, as they reflect our experiences and emotions. That is why I proudly display Frances Ha as my favourite movie on one of my work badges.

The most challenging part of this whole adventure was getting wristbands for the premiere. I rallied my friends from work and embarked on a mission to get those coveted wristbands. We woke up early, headed to the venue, and joined the line. Wristbands were being distributed from 8am, but by the time we arrived around 6am, a long queue had already formed. After three hours, we finally got the wristbands.

When I returned in the evening, the whole Leicester Square was a vibrant sea of pink. To fully embrace the atmosphere, I wore a pink dress. The event began, and the excitement was palpable. I must commend Barbie’s marketing team for their exceptional work. The pink carpet itself exuded enchantment and vibrancy. London was thoroughly saturated with their marketing efforts, evident by the renaming of Barbican tube station to Barbiecan and the appearance of a pink Doctor Who Tardis at Tower Bridge.

Celebrities graced the pink carpet one after the other. Simu Liu made a striking entrance, followed by the legendary Will Ferrell, who came with his family. Dua Lipa’s unexpected arrival added a touch of glamour. The stars of Sex Education brought their charm to the event. Barbie stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling were next to arrive, with Margot wearing a stunning pink dress, perfectly embodying the essence of Barbie. She even playfully quipped that there would be an optional fine for not wearing pink on Wednesdays, with the proceeds going to charity. Ryan, on the other hand, sported a green suit, which I assumed meant he had been fined by Margot for breaking the pink dress code. And then, the moment we had been waiting for―Greta made her entrance.

Filled with excitement, we handed our posters to Greta for her autograph, along with my cherished work badge. The sight of her movie on my badge brought a radiant smile to her face. One of my friends could not contain his admiration and shouted out how Greta had changed his life through films like Lady Bird (2017) and Little Women (2019). Greta seemed pleased. I even got Ryan’s autograph on my poster, and he was as charming as ever. Witnessing the banter between Greta and Ryan was unforgettable. These memories will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Augustine just completed her studies at Northumbria University

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